Upgrading cooling fans

[chris2002hk]

My cooling system is all in good order, 74deg thermo, the current fans are both working fine and have been ok in the winter. However with an outside temp reaching 33deg today in Hong Kong & my temp gauge reached 115-120 deg, I need to do sonething. Although it didn't overheat, I feel that the fans fitted are inefective in traffic and need to be upgraded. The addition of an air con condenser in front the rad has not helped ( mentioned in previous post). I have not yet tested the actual water temp as I don't have a gauge, so am assuming the dash gauge is roughly correct.

Has anyone got any ideas of higher flow fans that may be substituted for the origional ones ( Spal VA10 AP9 25A)without too much drama? I've looked on Spal USA's web site and there are some same sized high performance ones, however they are rated at a higher current usage.
Any ideas/ help appreciated.

Edited by chris2002hk on Wednesday 11th May 07:22

[Ribol]

Have you still got precats in? Ceramic coated manifolds?

If your car is going to deal with high temperatures on a regular basis I would have thought reducing the under bonnet temps must be a good place to start.

[BrianMillar]

I would think that the best bet would be to fit a radiator with better heat transfer first as there is only so much air that can be pushed/pulled through the rad before the fans loose effectiveness.

If it overcools in the winter a blind could be fitted to reduce air flow.

[Podie]

Better radiator and Ken Lowe fans should help.

You say the system is in good order, but a few years back in the south of Spain (after 8 hours driving and being sat in traffic for an hour), the temps hit 39oC and I hadn't realised I was a fan down until I went to use the horn.

It still didn't get to 100oC...

[M@H]

..sounds like a new temperature sender is required

If all is geniunely fine then it shouldn't get that high, the original fans do shift some decent air through - have you flushed your whole system through recently to know its fine? Removing a bucket of sludge from the bottom of the Radiator will be cheaper than fitting new fans.

[Harrytsg]

If the cooling system is all in good order, why not fit the Modwise 2 stage cooling kit, it brings the fans on at a (variable) lower temp at half speed, and if required full speed (again at a variable ) higher temp.

[V8FROG]

hi i think i am the right guy to talk too!!i live in malaysia here its 40degres all day and everyday with bad traffic jam.my car has bigger fans and a fans controller as well so u can on them whenever u feel like!!!but even hot like hell my car will never go more than 90.do u have an oil cooler???my car is a 2001 so it came with it.my other CHIMAERA is a 97MK2 and runs at 105 when really hot!!

[chris2002hk]

my car is standard under the hood, ie no ceramic coatings or heat lagging other than the STD stuff. it's done 70k miles. Ive not flushed the system, but I guess it's a start. .On the highway the temps stable at around 80 so I think the temp sender is working correctly, or at least is a reasonable idea.
Ive seen aluminum radiators but they are around same price as upgraded fans. Are they better than the standard fit?
I agree if the rad is bungee up then this may help!